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Choose Your Own Adventure

My friend Tanya Giang, the very one who I strongly recommend for headshots, and will give you a $50 discount just by saying you found her from this blog, is one of those hyphenates who is making money, doing what she loves, and choosing her own Hollywood adventure.

Need some inspiration? Check out her post below, and then go check out her link at the very bottom.
xoxo
Lira

Take Control, Love What You Do, Win Awards

When I was a child, I wanted to act. But my mother, a war refugee living in Los Angeles, was unfamiliar with the business.  An all too common story, we ended up getting scammed instead. It was more money than I knew my mom could afford, so I decided to become a lawyer.

That dream lasted through one con law class sophomore year of college, where it died a quick, dirty death. So then I was a graduate, and I still wanted to act.  But Hollywood said I was too ethnic with my Eurasian background. In the years it would take me to become eligible for SAG (now SAG-AFTRA), I took the opportunity to learn more about the business. I interned in casting, assisted in acting classes, even worked as an associate talent manager. Finally, I was ready to really commit to this acting thing. But then Hollywood said I wasn’t ethnic enough.

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How to Use Actors Access Effectively Part 4

Let's Talk About Cropping!

(Did you read my How to Use Actors Access Effectively Parts 1-3? You should!)

It's kinda funny how taking random classes like Yearbook in Junior High help your acting career. For reals.

I learned how to crop photos when I was 12. Did I have any idea when I went from Yearbook to my Speech and Drama I class that the former would greatly help the latter? Nope! Weird, right?

So like I've mentioned, I sometimes help assist an indie casting director and I get to see what Actors Access looks like from the other side. And people, it is VERY different.

First off, here is the actual size of your headshot:

Now imagine your photo next to three others just like it, and with 13 rows above it and 12 rows below. Your photo at that size, is one of 100 on a page, with oh, maybe 10 pages for the casting director to go through. 

How does your photo compare to the 1,000 other actors all perfect for the same role as you? How do you get the casting director to click on your photo to bring you in to audition?

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Health Insurance for Actors

If you're like me, you live a freelance life; you work a couple of odd part-time jobs so that you can be available for auditions. If you're having a fantastic year, you book a few commercials and end up qualifying and getting Sag-Aftra's health insurance! If you don't.....you don't have health insurance.

But you need to have it by January 14th, 2014. What do you do?

You go

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Should I Move to LA?

I know, I know, you're like, "What? Aren't you already in LA? Yeah, I am. I went to the beach today! Sure, I was wearing a sweatshirt AND a jacket, but still. I was at the beach!

Hi Lira
My name is Jessica, I'm 22, and I'm from a little big town in Kentucky. I'm interested in pursuing acting, however I feel like I'm not going to get anywhere. I have no experience other than a couple of features (which you have said doesn't count) and I live no where near a big city to do any acting! 

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So You Got Dumped By Your Agent

Tracy writes:

Dear Struggling Actress,

Hi there!

My name is Tracy, and I'm a big fan of your blog, as well as a big fan of YOU in real life (It feels like I've known you for years! Even feels like I went to college with you!). I think your advice to other actors is amazing, and I bet you give great advice about life in general too :)

So here's the situation: 

After being represented for eleven years by my commercial agent, I was emailed a drop notice that they are terminating their professional partnership with me and now I'm wondering how to go about a couple things:

1) Do you have any commercial agents to recommend? I'm thinking of putting together a list of about 10 agents and sending over headshots/resumes/cover letters.

2) How do I go about removing my reps from my online websites like AA and LA Casting? or do I just wait until I get new reps and they take over that account. I've never really done this before

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Prove It

Want to see your favorite Struggling Actress lose her shizz? Then keep reading:

HI! I'm [redacted, so let's say it's "Amy"] I just turned 17. I have been dancing since I was six and I am on the USA national champion [redacted] dance team. I started acting when I was 15 and I just loved it so now I am totally obsessed with becoming an actress! Yet, I have only been to a few auditions, mostly dance related and really haven't gotten any jobs (just dance things). So I think I really need an agent. I figured that my dancing experience could some how contribute to my acting career? By the way I absolutely love your blog, I just have a few questions.

First you said that when you signed with your first agent that you didn't know how to properly write a resume but what I was thinking was how did you get the agent if you didn't have a resume?? Second do you have any advice for me to find an agent? I am not with SAG or AFTRA but do I need to be at this time? 

Thank you and let me know!

Hey, My name is [redacted, so let's say "Lisa"]. I read your struggling actress blog, I need your advice on something if you are willing to give it. I am living here in Baltimore, Maryland. I am a struggling actress. I am so passionate about it. I have been doing theater for years, and I have

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Obvious Child

You know when you go to the movies and you're like, Meh, to everything you see? And then all of a sudden, you see a movie that just makes your heart explode into thousands of pieces because of how honest and beautiful it is?

Obvious Child is that. Beautifully written and directed by

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"Workaholic Musical Theatre Student Gets No Bites"

 Isn't that a great post title? I wish I had come up with it, but Charlene used that as her subject in her email to me:

First, I am a huge fan of your guidance! Your articles have given me the shoots of confidence that keep me going.

My name is Charlene; I am a Musical Theatre major at Howard University. I recently transferred into the Fine Arts school, so although technically a sophomore, I am a freshman.

I find myself not impatient, but ambitious and excited for the future. I am not lazy; I feel I can prove myself to show I love this business. My concern is, as a student, what can I do as a student to get ahead of the game? (Most of my training is based in Musical Theatre, I'll explore Film soon)

I understand these are the years to hone the craft and to learn about the art, but I want more projects- I want more auditions. I'm not performing for the big break, but it is definitely a goal as well. The sooner the better.

I'm saving up for a professional grade headshot; right now I have a decent headshot and a resume. I'll attach it, if that's okay with you. I'm also saving to create a demo reel with the  company you suggested that writes and creates scenes for reels. I'm working on recording Youtube videos and setting up a site.

Tonight I sent my resume and headshot to nearly 50 agents via e-mail. I'm not too sure what to write to introduce myself, so I wrote something along the lines of
"Hope all is well. I am looking for representation, etc. Attached is H/R… etc.," Hopefully I'll hear from someone soon.

I spent this summer auditioning for nearly everything that fit me, even some auditions that haven't.

I've gotten callbacks and second callbacks, but never a bite. I've done this for a month and a half, so I understand things don't come quickly. But it's a bit disheartening. I'm starting to think it's based on monetary investments. I don't want to just sit tight and watch casting directors pass me by because I can't yet afford thousand dollar master classes with directors. But what else could I do?

Thank you so much in advance!
Charlene, a hopeful but broke college student.

PS: Also, I hope you don't mind if I mention--

How do I ensure casting directors won't see my skin color and instantly try to marginalize me?

My biggest motive in theatre is to change it. I feel African Americans in the media have been poorly represented, and I want to be the face of the Educated, Non-Stereotypical Black Leading Lady. Not Sassy "random black girl singin' the soul."

However, there are not many roles for this.

Am I hypersensitive? Do you have any idea what my casting type, if you had to choose, would be?

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Microcosm

It's who you know in the film industry. It's making friends, building contacts, doing good work.  You'll see that it's such a small world.

For instance:

I played the antagonist in a short film last week --

With the director who hired me 4 years ago. In the short back then, there was a girl named Erica who had a very small part. But she was enthusiastic and lovely so she played the protagonist in this small project last week. (Bear with me here)

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Seeking Hair Models!

You know what I love about hair modeling? I don't have to go to the go-sees if I'm busy or if I just don't want to. Love that.

I also love that the master hair stylists, usually the top of their field at their company, and usually in the nation will work within my parameters.
"Will you do a keratin straightening that lasts for 60 shampoos?" "Nope!" "Okay, we'll book you for curly hair, then."

You know what I love most, though?

GETTING PAID TO GET MY HAIR DONE.

And my hair modeling agent is looking for new models!

Find my email over there on the side ----->
(that should be easy enough) and send me a LINK to your current hottest looking self (selfies are okay for current hair color/length) and a LINK to your professional headshot with your
age, location, height, weight, dress size, current hair color, eye color.

I'll forward it to my agent and if she likes your look, I'll give you her direct number. You tell her I'm the one who referred you so she'll take your call and boom! You might just have a hair model agent!

What is she looking for?

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Getting to the Top

Jameshia asks:

I currently do not have a demo reel, but do you think I could upload a video of me performing a monologue to help my submission to be put at the "top of the pile"??

As I've mentioned before, adding a video to your Actors Access profile filters your profile to the top of the pile when casting looks at their submissions. When you consider over a thousand people will submit themselves for one role, it's a good idea to have video attached.

And good news, Jameshia, you can definitely upload a video of yourself! In fact, there's several ways you can do it: